Wednesday, 24 December 2014

Digby's Moon Mission

Digby’s
Moon Mission taps into the timeless childhood desire for a ‘mission’, aided by
a group of eager accomplices.

Digby
Fixit wonders, ‘Why is the dark so dark?!’, and notes the moon’s slight size:
‘Banana-thin. No more than a sliver’. He concocts an energetic plan with the
aid of his friends to cook some food, fling it up to the moon and fatten it up,
restoring its roundness and therefore its glow.

Price
diverts from prose to rhyme as the children prepare the food, segmenting this
activity from the main narrative. Tortop’s illustrations convey humour, action
and fun, and it is pleasing to see the diversity of real life reflected in
Digby’s friends. The addition of Digby’s expressive little cat throughout is a
charming touch.

The
double-page spread displaying a determined Digby measuring the moon as it grows
larger each day is a favourite, and will no doubt touch adult readers. Digby is
convinced his plan is working, and it nods to the innocent wonder of childhood.

The
story’s conclusion reveals the aftermath of the moon’s feast, and uses humour
that will appeal to young readers of three to six. Overall, the story embraces
teamwork, creative problem-solving and determination in
an engaging way.